Can you think of any fictional books or movies? What is fiction? Fiction is a of a genre (category) of literature that tells a made-up story of imagined characters, settings, and/or plot events. Can you think of any fictional books or movies?

Climax Rising Action Resolution Exposition Plot Diagram Climax Falling Action Building Suspense Rising Action Resolution Theme Exposition Setting Characters Conflict

1. Exposition Beginning of the story Get information about the setting, major characters, and conflict.

Exposition: Setting Where and when a story takes place. How did the setting of The Wizard of Oz affect the story? The setting of The Wizard of Oz is Kansas.

Exposition: Characters There are two types of characters: Protagonist – the “good” guy; usually the main character that the story revolves around; usually a problem is presented to the main character. Antagonist – the “bad” guy; usually the one who presents the conflict (problem) to the protagonist

Exposition: Conflict Conflict – The problem that the protagonist faces. There are 4 conflict types. Man vs. man (external) Man vs. self (internal) Man vs. nature (external) Man vs. society (external) There is always one central conflict.

2. Rising Action Plot events that take place in a story that build suspense and make you wonder what will happen next. Plot events create character development so that the audience can further their opinions about characters in the story.

3. Climax The emotional high point or most suspenseful moment in a story. Usually the climax is a turning point for the protagonist and the antagonist.

4. Falling Action The aftermath or result of the climax – What happened to the protagonist and antagonist as a result of the climax?

5. Resolution The ending of the story; gives an explanation of how the characters end up.

6. Theme The message about life that the author wants a reader/audience to understand. (more on that later…)